jus ramblin'

Sumo

2010-01-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

This sport might seem strange to a lot of people around the world, but it's an integral part of Japanese culture, and something that anyone interested in Japanese culture should definitely put on their schedule to see that next time they visit Japan.

Opus 27

2009-07-03T14:55:00.001-07:00

Opus 27 from edo ray on Vimeo.

Toyota to lose 1.1 Billion

2008-12-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

Sounds all too familiar, huh?

Funny

2008-10-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Alright, so it doesn't have much to do with Asia, but I found this funny. If you've ever watched CNN, especially during the coverage of the American elections coming up, you'll know how much they are relying on these cool maps. Check this guy out. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, just drag the slider up to around the 5:00 mark.

Enjoy!

Beautiful Music

2008-09-26T08:51:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 24th September, 2008

One of the photo montages that I put together after a photo viewing, with this great harpist playing very beautiful classical music to accompany my photos of Balboa Park.

Following is her bio and web site:
Tasha Smith, harpist, has studied harp with Dorinne Yoder of Escondido and is currently studying with Elena Mashkovtseva. She has also studied violin, her teachers being Holly Christmas, Michael Tseitlin, and currently Hernan Constantino. She has studied violin for 13 years and harp for 7 years.

Tasha has played violin and harp for the San Diego Young Artists Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Youth Symphony. She is presently the harpist for both the San Diego Youth Symphony and the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and plays violin for the San Diego Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra.

Tasha has won awards in both soloist and ensemble categories with both harp and violin. She was 3rd place winner in The BEEM Foundation Scholarship Competition as violin soloist in 1995. In 1998 and 1999 she was 1st place winner in the Chula Vista Women's Club Music Competition as harpist for harp/violin ensemble, and as harp soloist respectively. This year (2001) Tasha took first place in the string division for the Grossmont Community Concert Association Women's Instrumental Scholarship Auditions as harp soloist. As a result of winning the auditions, Tasha is this evening's featured concerto soloist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra.

Tasha selected to study at Grossmont College in order to prepare for further music studies at a conservatory or university school of music. She is also satisfying some general education requirements at Grossmont College to enable her to devote more time to music after she has transferred to a conservatory.

Tasha's present goals are to improve her performance skills and to learn as much music theory as possible in preparation for her university/conservatory auditions. Tasha's goals for the future are to perform as a harp soloist with orchestras around the world, have a place as harpist in a major symphony orchestra, and to teach both harp and violin both at a conservatory and privately. Tasha is pursuing her Sophomore year as a music major at Grossmont College.

http://harpbytashasmith.com/home.cfm - She speaks French and Spanish. She is the Principal Harpist of the Orchestra.of Baja California of Tijuana

She was a student of Isabelle Perrin -

http://harpbytashasmith.com/home.cfm

Beethoven's 8th Sonata in C minor

2008-09-25T06:13:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 24th September, 2008

Put together a composite of a couple of photos shot during a viewing of my photos over the weekend. Amazing how well beautifully played music suits my photos of Balboa Park.

Enjoy!

A Railing in Balboa Park

2008-07-14T10:02:00.001-07:00

A railing in Balboa Park with the last rays of the evening sun creating golden colors on the concrete. Photo created using 3 photos all taken 2 f-stops apart and then merged together in Photoshop for tonemapping.

Working with HDR

2008-06-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to squeeze the most out of my photos, I'm starting to work with HDR, but it's not an easy medium to work with. Just takes time I guess.

Quakes in unexpected places

2008-06-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

This all brings back strong memories for me.

Unrelenting suicide toll

2008-06-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

A sad trend. I remember a Japanese told me once, that a Korean would committed suicide because of political issues, whereas a Japanese person would take their lives because of love. Sad.

Blowin' in the Wind

2008-06-20T07:53:00.001-07:00

Kitano receives lifetime achievement award at Moscow film festival

2008-06-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Kitano. He's not for everyone, but if you like Quentin Tarantino, you'll very likely enjoy him. I found it interesting that he's being recognized in Russia, a country that usually makes for odd bedfellows with Japan.

Let 10% of Japan be foreigners: Nakagawa

2008-06-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Looks like a dire situation in Japan and other so-called 1st world countries, with the aging population dwindling the number of young people that can support the elderly. So the political machine in Japan is recommending raising the number of immigrants to their country. This is not something that the Japanese take lightly. Most have actively fought again immigration reform for years.

Japan, seeking trimmer citizens, decides to measure millions of waistlines

2008-06-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

I wish our government would get serious about our health care, instead of just supporting the drug companies that make their fortunes by giving us little pills once we've already done the damage.

Released Japanese sorry over Yemen kidnapping

2008-05-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

How's this for being Japanese. Two Japanese women who were kidnapped in Yemen, apologized to people in Japan for worrying them. Now that's Japanese.

Hunger in a world of plenty

2008-04-29T15:46:00.001-07:00

In a Japan Times editorial The Japan Times we get a bleak picture of what's ahead economically. Not a pretty picture, but one we all should heed.

Japanese family, monk detained on Malaysia Olympic torch leg

2008-04-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Maybe they ought to just cancel this years coming Olympics ;) This has become such a mess.

Troublemakers can't get in, but also can't get out of Japan

2008-04-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Japan has always had a very strong policy concerning people coming in to the country, but it looks like they're cracking down even harder.

Notes on 'Later Term Elderly People Medical Treatment' joke

2008-04-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Another sad sign of our times, with our elderly population getting older.

Japan's hunger becomes a dire warning for other nations

2008-04-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, how's this for a wake up call? We've got problems coming from our inability to control our populations and increase our productivity. If Japan is feeling this, can you imagine how other, less prosperous nations are doing? Of course, you could make the argument that the less developed nations will do better with less because they're more often faced with shortages. But we need to wake up before more people starve.

Another little gem from Balboa Park

2008-03-01T21:07:00.001-08:00

I found this tiny flower on a 5ft high shrub growing just outside the right-hand door to the Botanical Gardens in Balboa Park. The flowers are so small, that although they were covering the plant, no one stopped to look. A shame really.

Tyranny will be the biggest winner at the Beijing Games

2008-02-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

Things just aren't what they used to be. Weren't the summer games always a cause for celebration in the past. Those days are over.

Weeds ;)

2008-02-17T19:06:00.001-08:00

Some times you've just gotta shoot whatever pops up.

Google Wins Japan's Mobile Net Battle

2008-02-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

This BusinessWeek article may just mean a lot more than you think. The next huge market for the search engines is mobile and while Yahoo has always been the largest portal / email system in Japan, now it looks like Google is poised to take over the mobile market.

Leave it to Google to know where the opportunities are.

Botanical Garden Jewel

2008-02-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Caught this one while walking through the Botanical Gardens in Balboa Park the other day. The late afternoon sun was slicing down through the slatted roof, shining on the orchid, leaving the background dark. Couldn't resist. Surprisingly, a lot of people were walking past, without stopping to look. Wondered why they were there ;)

Fire destroys ancient gate to Seoul

2008-02-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

This gate has stood here since about the Columbus discovered America, but now it's ashes. Such a shame; it was a real national treasure. I'm glad that I had the chance to stand at the foot of it and think of all the history that passed through it. Very sad day for the world in general and Koreans in particular.

As a Japanese Island Grows Less Remote, a Wildcat Grows More Endangered

2008-02-04T20:40:00.001-08:00

Endangered yes, but something about these kind of stories strikes a warm chord in my heart. I hope they exist and will prosper. But who really knows.

As a Japanese Island Grows Less Remote, a Wildcat Grows More Endangered

2008-02-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Endangered yes, but something about these kind of stories strikes a warm chord in my heart. I hope they exist and will prosper. But who really knows.

Japanese girl's letter returned 15 years later ... by fish

2008-01-26T21:11:00.001-08:00

I love this stuff. Enjoy!

Japan's population continue flowing to urban areas+

2008-01-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

Will it ever stop. I used to notice this while driving around Japan. The cities are huge and crowded and young, but as soon as you leave one, you enter a beautiful landscape of rice paddies and bamboo forests, with the only inhabitants being the grandparents of the young people in the cities. The young are all leaving their birthplaces for the high rise towers, while the small villages keep getting smaller as the older folks pass away.

You'd think that sooner or later, the trend will have to reverse, but who knows.

Flamingo's

2008-01-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

How a Japanese Empress Inspired an American Literary Prince

2008-01-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sounds like it could be a very interesting book.

Fingerprinting Harmless To Tourism In Japan: Government -AFP

2008-01-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

I guess this is the price that we need to pay to stay alive in this crazy post-911 world. Won't be long before all governments will be adopting similar measures.

Probably slow the entry line down a bit :-|

Another shot from behind the Library

2008-01-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

A lot of little gems to be found there. You've gotta start checking all the alleyways. Enjoy!

Another from behind the Library

2008-01-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Another twist on the weeds behind the Library.

A new idea

2008-01-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

Just behind the library where I teach, there's a great little patch of weeds that really light up at sunset. Here's my first attempt. Enjoy.

Happy New Year

2007-12-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

Almost to 2008 and I thought that maybe this happy spring shot would bring you all some joy. Happy New Year, and many more.

Merry Christmas Everyone

2007-12-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

That's what Christmas is supposed to be about, Peace on Earth.

btw - the photo is a San Diego Christmas moment ;-) Enjoy!

Stepped out for an evening walk

2007-12-20T07:26:00.001-08:00

And look what was awaiting me, gotta always remember to carry your camera.

Forgotten Planter

2007-12-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

Came across this little scene the other day after my photography class in Balboa Park, and thought you might like it. Enjoy!

A Pelican on Shelter Island

2007-12-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

A little patience and finally he spread his wings for me. I think he knew all along that's what I was waiting for. Nice bird, that Pelican.

Another from the Asian Umbrella Collection

2007-12-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

Just thought the colors would look nice here. From the Asian Unbrella exhibit at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.

Got lucky with this one

2007-12-12T20:42:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 29th January, 2007

Spent some time making a feathered friend who rewarded me with this sunset silhouette.

Pirates free Japanese tanker, crew off Africa

2007-12-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

What century are we in now? You'd think that this sort of thing would've been stopped a couple of hundred years ago.

my brother, your brother

2007-12-10T20:26:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Jeff Rinehart on 8th December, 2007

in a retrospective way, brother of us all.

Another backdoor in Balboa Park

2007-12-04T21:08:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 21st November, 2007

These backdoors in the Park always fascinate me, especially in the late afternoon.

Empty rooms force a cultural evolution

2007-12-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

If you read Memoirs of a Geisha, then this story will find a spot in your heart. Sad, but some of the things that were so interesting to us yesterday, are not reverent today.

A postcard from Balboa Park

2007-12-02T09:00:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 19th November, 2007

Taken from just before the bridge, across the street on my way west. Light was magical.

Driving force of Chinese smog

2007-12-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is clearly just the start of this sort of statement. I heard a US official yesterday saying that it wasn't right to stop emerging countries from doing all the things that the so-called 1st world countries did in the past. There's a huge hole in this logic and I hope people wake up to it before it's too late. When we were developing (and polluting), there were so few car in America, Japan & Europe compared to what is coming on-line (on the roads) with China and India starting their motors. Also, we weren't nearly as aware of the dire consequences of our actions. Of course, all of us wish we would have developed a gas alternative sooner, but we ALL have to start now. This planet will not withstand the onslaught of a doubling or tripling of the exhaust fumes that we currently emit.

STOP THIS CRAZY CYCLE!

No defense of corruption

2007-11-30T13:10:00.000-08:00

Guess the US doesn't have a lock on this sort of thing, just seems worse here.

Inside the Museums of Balboa Park

2007-11-30T13:06:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 30th November, 2007

Found this exhibit of Asian Umbrellas at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. This great museum is free every 3th Tuesday and well worth checking out. Always some great finds.

4 McDonald's Japan outlets in Tokyo falsified food production data

2007-11-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

Seems this sort of thing is happening everywhere now, not just China. I guess when our leaders become self-serving megalomaniacs and loose any trace of decency, the public can't be far behind.

An evening walk in Balboa Park

2007-11-27T15:35:00.001-08:00

Another from my walk the other night in Balboa Park. Some guy walked up to me while I was composing this photo and told me there wasn't enough light to take a good photo. Maybe our ideas of a good photo are different.

Football field-sized kite powers latest heavy freight ship

2007-11-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, who woulda thunk it. A freighter ship being pulled by a kite.

Reflections of Balboa Park

2007-11-26T18:28:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Edoray on 26th November, 2007

I had an opportunity to stop by Balboa Park last night and came across some nice reflections. I'm constantly amazed by how beautiful that park is, especially at night.

Take care.

Outcry after Japan ends 44-year ban on humpback whale hunt

2007-11-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

I guess they just don't get it. Sad!

Another piano player

2007-11-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

Another one of these guys that play the piano with balls, where'd they all come from all of the sudden?

Cancer, Baseball, Nuclear Weapons & Strength

2007-11-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

The good fight continues. Everywhere. Even in the face of his own death, this crusader doesn't stop. He has more than a right to protest. As a bomb survivor, it's his life.

Pianoman plays with Balls

2007-11-10T19:26:00.001-08:00

My mom sent this to me today, even knowing that I don't open email attachments. So I thought that it must be something good. I wasn't disappointed. It's great. How did this guy get so much talent, when I got none ;-( Oh well, I guess life's not always fair. Enjoy!

Foreign teachers jobless after Japan school goes bust

2007-10-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is interesting, since just this year the government of Japan declared that it was going to stop at nothing to get the population educated in English. More teacher were hired this year than in any other, but now what?

Crown princess to make 1st official trip outside Tokyo since June

2007-10-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Crown Princess Masako will make her first official trip outside Tokyo later this month to attend the opening ceremony of a cultural festival in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, since taking part in a greenery ceremony in Nagano Prefecture in June, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday.

The princess will accompany her husband, Crown Prince Naruhiro, on a three-day trip to Tokushima Prefecture from Friday, after the agency staff consulted her doctor, an agency official said.

Crown Princess Masako has relinquished many of her official duties since 2003. She was diagnosed in 2004 with adjustment disorder, a mental condition attributable in part to pressures resulting from her life in the palace.

Japan's Smoking Rate Falls

2007-10-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Japan's smoking rate, one of the highest in the industrialized world, has fallen to a new low amid rising health awareness and tighter regulations, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Somehow it never seems like it, but this is good news for the health of Japanese people.

Empty gestures on climate change

2007-10-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Emptiness again? Is anyone really surprised. I'd be surprised if Mr. Bush ends up accomplishing anything worth while during his two terms as President. But now, if he can just quit dragging the image of America through the mud for 2 more years, maybe our next leader can salvage something of our long held reputation.

US installs missile-tracking system in Japan

2007-10-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

US forces deployed a mobile missile-tracking station in Japan for the first time Friday, officials said, as part of efforts to defend against a potential attack from North Korea.

The San Diego Asian Film Festival

2007-10-11T07:41:00.001-07:00

Today's opening day for the San Diego Asian Film Festival and it looks to be even better than last years festival. The list of films (found here) is an impressive one, with something for everybody.

There are offerings from nearly every country that you've ever considered 'Asian', along with others from places that might surprise you. But always from, by, or for Asian, although this lineup will appeal to most people. Countries represented include: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macao, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the UK, to name a few.

Take a look at the list in the link above and find one (or a few) that interest you, and stop by. Beyond the movies, this is just a great event.

C'ya there.

Aging Japan eyes cutting-edge technology

2007-10-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

And this was the culture that prided itself on taking care of the elderly. I hope the children only see this as a last resort. It's great technology, but what about the human touch?

San Diego's Mission Bay at Solar Eclipse

2007-10-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well, sort of ;-)

Japanese women growing slimmer but men growing fatter: gov't survey

2007-10-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well both sexes here just keep getting fatter . . .

Tokyo promotes disaster prevention as key to surviving major earthquake

2007-10-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Scientifically, it's almost a sure thing — Tokyo is awaiting a catastrophic earthquake. In fact, it's long overdue. The same thing could be said for San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and just about any other city on the Ring of Fire. So this story is relevant to us all.

Japan's Minamata Disease still lingers

2007-09-29T09:13:00.001-07:00

A horrible story that I'd forgotten about until now. If there's anything good in this story, it's that hopefully people will be more careful with these deadly chemicals.

Japan seeks truth about photographer's death

2007-09-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that 50-year-old photographer Kenji Nagai was shot dead in Yangon. Pictures smuggled out of the country showed him taking photos with a small camera even as he lay dying on a street near Sule Pagoda, a focus of the protests in the capital.

What photographers will do to get a good photo, huh?

Fukuda elected new LDP president

2007-09-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Abe-san's successor has been chosen. I just hope he faces a brighter future. We'll see.

Tokyo sanctions an extended cull of Taiji dolphins

2007-09-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry supporters, but considering the decline of dolphin populations worldwide, this is really disturbing. The world will judge this behavior for years to come.

Japan's Abe indefinitely hospitalized

2007-09-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

For anyone that thought he was acting.

World's oldest man turns 112

2007-09-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

The world's oldest man celebrated his 112th birthday with two bashes at his home in southern Japan on Tuesday, then declared that he wants to live forever.

All that good food I guess.

LDP presidential race will be head-on clash between Fukuda, Aso

2007-09-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

Keeping you posted as to the situation in Japan with the upcoming elections.

LDP presidential race will be head-on clash between Fukuda, Aso

2007-09-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Keeping you posted as to the situation in Japan with the upcoming elections.

Abe hospitalized for fatigue, intestinal ills

2007-09-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Whether you liked him or not, and I realize that many Japanese are strongly divided on him, it's sad that he's going out this way. You have to believe that it was, at least partly due, to the pressures of the office he's held. Not an easy job.

Japan race pits dove against hawk

2007-09-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

This is going to be interesting to watch. And it could get a little heated. The world will find out with this election which way the Japanese people are planing to move forward politically.

I'll keep you posted.

Chomsky says building, not bombing, the best way to fight terror

2007-09-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Gotta love the way he thinks. At one time, he was the most quoted man in history, replacing Shakespeare. Not sure now, but he's obviously still a great thinker.

Narita Airport goes a little more international with multilingual welcome signs

2007-08-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Good news for travelers to Japan. Everything helps!

Dedication, goodwill go far deeper than the skin

2007-08-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

The of the less common stories about Japanese occupation during WWII. I'm sure many more exist, but of course, the normal press just wants to point out the bad and unjust side of humanity. Sells more papers for some reason.

Sizzling samba heats up Tokyo

2007-08-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Sort of a Brazilian Carnival gone East. Look like fun, but in the heat, some of those costumes must have been hard to bare (no pun intended).

A rich repository of traditional Zen art

2007-08-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

Tourists grab a gander at Oze greenery

2007-08-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful area of Japan, too often overlooked my foreign tourists.

Okayama farmers use ducks to battle rice plant-eating snails

2007-08-19T09:29:00.001-07:00

What makes this story so compelling to me, is a sad story. Some years ago, when I was in Indonesian on the beautiful island of Bali, I was walking back in the mountains along the narrow curving paths between the rice fields and noticed that there were no ducks. What made this observation so peculiar, was that I'd been to similar rice fields a few years before and there were always many ducks. It was a great system (for everyone but the ducks, I guess ;-), the ducks ate the snails and bugs that had been eating the rice. When the ducks fattened up, they became unwilling table dressing.

But there were, in just a few short years, NO DUCKS! So I asked a few of the rice farmers why this was so and where were the ducks. I heard the same disturbing story from everyone I talked to. They told me that some important people came from a huge American chemical company, and told them how to get rid of the snails, THE MODERN WAY! They (the 'helpful' Americans) gave them free fancy backpack sprayers and enough chemicals for a year per farmer. These Balinese farmers had never met such nice people. And besides, they all looked so cool wearing these space aged backpack sprayers. So naturally the farmers started using all their cool new stuff. Well, you can probably figure out the "rest of the story".

The ducks all died a horrible death, and would no longer return to the fields, so at the end of the year, the snails and bug returned en masse, and destroyed that years crop. So the farmers contacted their cool new American friends for more chemicals to help them with their new problem. Guess what????? The chemicals were no longer free. Surprise, surprise. The large American chemical company now had new customers for life.

And in America, they prosecute drug dealers for much the same thing. I hear you say that drugs are different because they can harm and even kill people. Well, I don't really see any difference at all. Call me naive, but what's the difference between dying of illicit drugs or dying of chemical poisoning? DEAD IS DEAD1 Maybe we ought to hang a few of these new friends of the innocent Balinese farmers. Not only would it serve them right, but might also send a lesson to these companies, that just because their losing their markets in the 'educated' parts of the world, doesn't mean they can dump their death on the innocent places.

Now the Balinese are eating rice grown in waters so saturated with deadly chemicals that no life can live there anymore. Crop yields are down (no more natural fertilizer from the duck dropping perhaps?), and what is being produced can only be produced with the 'help' of chemicals. How long until the Balinese end up dying the same horrible unnatural death as their ducks.

Group of 3,500 creates world's longest painting

2007-08-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Some 3,500 people have helped create the world's longest painting that stretches some 4,663 meters.

Since May the group spent 34 days working on the painting on more than one hundred pieces of paper sized 25 meters in length and 50 centimeters wide. They mostly painted natural scenery and trains.

Pretty cool, check it out.

Japan eyes spurring high-end tour packages in U.S.

2007-08-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

I guess it's time to start a high end travel service to Japan.

Zen temple offers hands-on experience to foreign visitors

2007-08-17T22:08:00.001-07:00

You'll have to subscribe to read the full story, but if you're planning a trip to Kyoto, it might be worth the money.

Japan swelters in record heat wave

2007-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

All time historical record for high temperatures was broken yesterday in Japan, with a resulting 13 people dead. More high temps are projected.

Wal-Mart unit slashes forecasts but won't quit Japan

2007-08-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

Just what Japan didn't need; more economic bad news.

US sees relations hit if Japan ends Afghan support

2007-08-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to heat up with US/Japanese relations. Hasn't the current US administration bothered to take a look at the rest of the world. No support for this failed policy anywhere that I can see. Now the US is going to risk ruining the long standing friendship between our nations.

See the post below for more on this.

Bush drops plans for Japan visit

2007-08-14T22:11:00.000-07:00

Figures, huh? The Japanese want to get out of the mess that Mr Bush has gotten the world into, and now Bush snubs Mr Abe, just when he needs his support. Whether you like Abe-san or not, he doesn't deserve to be treated like this.

Great Flash web site - Check it out!

2007-08-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you with Adobe Flash player loaded on your machine (and that should be all of you), here's a pretty incredible web site in France. It's all in French and a bit difficult to navigate, but learning how will reward you with one of the most creative sites current on the Internet. Take a little time to fool around with it. Just remember that in Flash, there is no back button, so you will have to find a way to move about with just what is on your screen. I'll leave a permanent link along the right side of this page.

Please enjoy.

A first for Hiroshima, Japan: American is custodian of atomic bomb legacy

2007-08-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

What can I say?

Kuwata's star shines bright in Japan

2007-08-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Japanese have come up with yet another great rookie baseball pitcher, but at 39, can he really be called a rookie.

Bon Festival

2007-08-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Obon Festival is coming up in Japan.

Walking the Wards

2007-08-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Another good piece by Kit Nagamura on walking in Japan. She's written 24 articles on walking the different wards in and around Tokyo, and always shares the inside stories with us. Her articles appear on the Travel section of the Japan Times Online, and a link can be found to all of her articles on the side bar to the right.

Why is Japan the source of so many bright ideas?

2007-08-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize that Japan holds more patents per person than any other country, in fact nearly 4 times more then the US, which is third in the world with 350 patents per million persons. Switzerland is 2nd with 500 per million. Japanese people have 1200 patents per million. This Economist article explores this phenomena.

Interesting!

Another leader that can't seem to hear his Constituents

2007-07-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resisted calls today to resign after a devastating defeat in Sunday’s election for the upper house of Parliament, insisting that Japanese voters still supported his policies.

With over 70% of the American public feeling the same way about Bush, maybe he ought to go with him ;-) Let's clean house.